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The ancient Roman Arena in Verona hosts a star-studded concert to honor the addition of Italian opera singing to UNESCO’s list of intangible global heritage.
On Friday, Verona’s iconic Roman Arena will come alive with the enchanting sounds of Italian opera, as some of the world’s most renowned singers gather to celebrate the art form’s recent addition to UNESCO’s list of intangible global heritage. The star-studded classical concert, featuring Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, German tenor Jonas Kaufmann, French baritone Ludovic Tezier and Italian soprano Eleonora Buratto, will be a testament to the enduring legacy and global influence of Italian opera.
The Arena, which is the largest open-air theater in the world, will welcome over 10,000 attendees for this momentous occasion. Italian opera, acknowledged by the UN for its unique combination of music, drama, acting and staging, has captivated audiences worldwide for centuries. As baritone Ludovic Tezier aptly stated, “Italian opera is our common ancestor. Opera is an Italian invention which has spread all over the world.”
Under the baton of conductor Riccardo Muti, 160 orchestra musicians and more than 300 choristers from prestigious Italian institutions such as La Scala in Milan and La Fenice in Venice will showcase their talents. The program will feature arias from Giacomo Puccini’s masterpieces, including Madame Butterfly, La Boheme and Tosca, marking the centenary of the composer’s death. The concert will also pay homage to Giuseppe Verdi, with extracts from La Traviata and Rigoletto.
The choice of Verona’s Arena as the venue for this celebration is particularly fitting. Tezier described the Arena’s atmosphere as “warm, conducive to opera,” and spoke of the “truly magical moments” experienced within its walls. He compared performing in the Arena to being a gladiator entering battle, due to the “exceptional energy that emanates from this place.”
Built in the first century AD, the Arena was originally designed to entertain Romans with gladiator fights, spectacular shows featuring wild beasts and even naval battles. Its remarkable acoustics were first discovered by Veronese tenor Giovanni Zenatello, who performed Verdi’s Aida there in 1913, leading to the creation of the Verona Arena Opera Festival.
The concert, which will be broadcast live, marks the beginning of the 101st edition of the Verona Arena Opera Festival. The festival, running until September 7, is expected to draw over 500,000 music lovers from around the world, further cementing the Arena’s status as a global hub for opera enthusiasts.
Italian opera’s origins can be traced back to Florence around 1600, with the founding of an academy that promoted an innovative combination of sung text and music. Claudio Monteverdi, who lived from 1567 to 1643, is considered the first great composer of opera, paving the way for generations of Italian composers who would shape the art form’s evolution.
With AFP
